SELINSGROVE, Pa. - Susquehanna University will offer women's golf as a varsity sport beginning with the 2002-03 academic year, director of athletics Don Harnum announced Tuesday.

Women's golf will become the 23rd varsity sport at Susquehanna, and the first added since men's lacrosse in 2000. The addition of women's golf gives Susquehanna 12 women's and 11 men's sports, all of which compete in Division III of the NCAA. A search for the team's first head coach is underway.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Susquehanna to attract talented students and athletes to our campus," said Harnum. "Susquehanna is the type of school which attracts outstanding female golfers and right now we have no opportunity for them to compete. Our women's sports programs have grown in response to the desire on the part of our female students to have a competitive varsity experience. We are optimistic that women's golf will be another winner in many ways."

According to the March 18 edition of the NCAA News, a total of 37 Division III schools have added women's golf over the past two years, bringing the number of Division III schools currently offering women's golf as a varsity sport to 135.

2002 also marked the third year of the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship, which has been won all three years by Methodist (N.C.) College. A total of 20 schools were represented at the NCAA Championships, as 10 teams of five players were joined by 10 individuals in the four-day event.

"We are always seeking ways to improve our students' educational experiences, in and out of the classroom. Just as we are eager to maintain currency in our academic offerings, so too are we eager to enrich co- and extra-curricular offerings at a high level," said Susquehanna president L. Jay Lemons. "We believe that the addition of the women's golf team bolsters our commitment to providing a comprehensive broad-based athletics program."

Susquehanna has already enjoyed significant success with its men's golf program, which has won eight consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference championships and recently made its fifth appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship in the last seven years.

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